Page 26 March 2011 ANLC features Family Read during 20-year celebration By Nicholas Herrle The Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center celebrated its 20 th anniversary by showcasing its monthly Family Read. The event occurs the last Friday of every month and all students K-8 are encouraged to bring a parent, sibling, aunt, cousin or other family member to sit and read with them for 30 minutes before school starts. Principal Charles Grisier has been at the school for four years and keeps alive the tradition of Family Read started by ANLC founder Carolyn Repp. “The Family Read stresses the importance of the home, school connection,” he said. The activity epitomizes the tenets of the American Federation of Teachers take on reading: “Those who learn to read with ease in the early grades have a foundation on which to build new knowledge. Those who do not are doomed to repeated cycles of frustration and failure.” ANLC librarian Bonnie Kertman said the school doesn’t show any division between age and grade, but rather acts as one community to achieve learning goals. “If one child’s family does not attend the family read, another child’s family will step in so everyone has a chance to participate,” Grisier said. The student body of about 540 swelled to around 700 during the anniversary event on Jan. 28, and the campus was fi lled with children and parents sitting on benches outside, or on the grass and even a few parents dared to squeeze into their children’s seats. Kids began reading, and if they stumbled on a word family members were there to help and encourage them to keep going. Max Sturdy, 36, and his 10-year-old son Samson read Diary of a Wimpy Kid . “I’ve only started coming seriously this year,” Sturdy said of Family Read day. “It’s nice to come and read with my son.” The feeling seemed mutual as Samson looked up to his father: “I like it ‘cause I’m spending time with my dad.” He added: “I read other books in the series with other people, but I’m going to re-read them with my dad.” Kertman said Family Read not only bene fi ts reading development, but a child’s overall future. “It all builds,” she said. “Children with parents involved in their schooling are more apt to be successful.” ANLC also has such programs as Buddy Read in which higher-level students help lower-level ones read. “This helps the school blend together as one community,” Kertman said. “It helps get rid of the cliques that are apparent at most schools.” Cell: () - • Office: () -  E. Camelback Road, Suite , Scottsdale cionne.mccarthy@russlyon.com www.CionneMcCarthy.com Secluded Exclusive neighborhood in the heart of Scottsdale close to Kierland, The Airpark, 101 Freeway & the new Baseball Park • Estate Sized lots from 35,000 to 41,000 sq.ft. • Fully improved lots ready for immediate building • Gorgeous McDowell Mountain Views & Northsight park access • Private & Guard-gated • Some lots can accommodate 2 story homes S E L L E R C A R R Y B A C K F I N A N C I N G AVA I L A B L E O N A P P R O V E D C R E D I T R E A D Y T O B U I L D R E A D Y T O B U I L D your D R E A M H O M E? D R E A M H O M E? Cionne Cionne McCarthy McCarthy for those who expect excellence Come see 11 lots in Cavallo Estates! Put Cionne’s knowledge of Arcadia, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale to work for you! A proud Arcadia resident for 27+ years A top RLSIR real estate sales producer for over 25 years Ranked by The Business Journal as one of the Top 25 Realtors in the Valley Member, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate Long-standing Board Member of the Luxury Home Tour Listing Agent for the sold Arcadia Home designed/built by Frank Lloyd Wright for son, David

Page 27 March 2011 Hawktion Continued from page 25 “I think Hopi has always had a reputation of being the jewel of the neighborhood,” she said. “It’s always been one of the best schools in this area.” Roberts said she and the other PTA members, with the help of volunteers, have contributed “easily in the hundreds” of hours. “I’ve been preparing since August,” she said. “We couldn’t do without the help of parents and the community.” The 2010 Hopi Hawktion raised more than $130,000, and Roberts said she is hopeful that this year’s event will bring in even more. “I’d like to see us raise about $150,000,” she said. The silent auction will feature 400 to 500 items that range from travel packages to jewelry. “We’ve had a wide range of materials. There is a lot of competitive bidding on the items,” Roberts said. Because of the venue, Roberts said the Hopi Hawktion is open to all members of the community. “Because we’re at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, we have the capacity,” she said. “We’d love to have parents and community members come to see what the school’s about.” For more information on the event, visit www.hopihawktion.com. District aids AVID thru foundation By Maria Herrick The Scottsdale Uni fi ed School District Foundation has awarded $6,900 to the Arcadia complex’s AVID program that will send fourth- and fi fth-grade teachers to a summer program on teaching strategies. Hopi and Tavan elementary schools and the Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center soon will be the fi rst set of elementary schools in SUSD to implement the AVID program, which is a rigorous academic system focusing on getting students into college. AVID – which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination – works with students viewed as underserved. The AVID school sites in SUSD are Arcadia, Coronado and Saguaro high schools and Ingleside, Mohave and Supai middle schools. “We fi nd students who are in the academic middle and identify students who will be successful in advanced academic Continued on page 28 WE DO CLEAN-UPS! 602-273-1633 www.erslandtouch.com License #5260 AZ C-21R ROC #133079 De-thatch/Aeration Frost pruning Tree/shrub planting Irrigation repairs ERSLAND TOUCH LANDSCAPE FREE ESTIMATES! PERSONAL TRAINING 2 BE FIT B a l a n c e d o n e - s t o p support for all of your fitness needs One - on- one p e r s o n a l t r a i n i n g 602.424.2522 WWW.X2BEFIT.COM 4290 E . Indian School Road Suite 111 Phoenix, AZ 85018 One - on- one p e r s o n a l t r a i n i n g Come on in for two complimentary training sessions! Complimentary sessions can only be booked between 11am and 3pm W.R. Williams FINE JEWELRY 4730 E Indian School Rd • Safeway Center • 602-263-8404 arcadiadaily.com arcadiadaily.com